THE ALVAR FIELDS             
                          
                                          
 FROM   NORTH   TO   SOUTH,   THIRTY  ODD 
 KILOMETERS.  FROM  WEST  TO  EAST,  FOUR 
 THOUSAND  METERS. FROM TOPSOIL TO STONE, 
 A FOOT  OR TWO. NO ROOTS CAN  FESTER, NO 
             DUST CAN LINGER.             
                                          
 HERE  IS EARTH,  CLAY,  AND  STURDY  LOW 
 PLANTS.  BUSHES  FRAME  THE  STRIP.  THE 
 EARTH IS BARE  IN PATCHES  AS  LARGE  AS 
               YOU AND ME.                
                                          
 CROSS  IT TO GET TO  THE OCEAN, OR DON'T 
          TO STAY WHERE YOU ARE.